Catamenial bandage.



No. 880,928. PATENTED MAR.,3, 1908.

' A. R. SLATER.

GATAMENIAL BANDAGB.

APPLIGATIO'N FILED JULY 11, 1906.

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No. 880,928. PATENTED 3, 1908.

A. R. SLATER.

GATAME-NIAL BANDAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1906.

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ARTHUR R. SLATER, OF FRUITVALE, CALIFORNIA.

CATAMENIAL BANDAGE i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 3, 1908.

Application filed July 11, 1906. Serial No. 235,620.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR R. SLATER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fruitvale, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Catamenial Bandages, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in abdominal bandages, comprehending specifically a protective and supporting belt designed for adjustment about the abdomen of an individual.

The main object of the invention is to provide a bandage of the class described made up of two members, permanently connected along one edge and removably connected along the opposite edge, the construction providing for securing the ordinary catamenial pad between the members when not desired for use, whereby said pad is conveniently accessible when desired, being at other times concealed and supported in a manner to avoid discomfort to the wearer.

The invention in the preferred details of construction will be described in the following specification, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings in whic 1:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of an abdominal bandage constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. elevation of the bandage in extended form, the front member of the bandage being broken away to illustrate the catamenial pad in position within the bandage. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the pad in position for use. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings my improved bandage comprises two members, a front or face member 1, and a rear or supporting member 2. The members are preferably of similar contour, being shaped to provide the usual belt, and the rear or supporting memher is preferably of thicker material than the face member. The respective members are secured together at their upper edges as at 3, being however free of such connection at their lower edges. At one end the members are connected throughout their transverse dimension to an extension 4, being similarly connected at the opposite end to a second extension 5. The connection of the latter extension however, to the members is such as to provide for the passage of the extension 4 between the face member 1 and the exten- Fig. 3 is a brokension 5 in securing the bandage in place, said extension 5 being for this purpose secured by relatively longitudinal lines of stitching 6, disposed immediately adjacent the respective upper and lower edges of the members. The transversely disposed relatively inner end of the extension 5 is therefore free of connection with the members, to permit the passage of the end of the extension 4 in securing the bandage in place. Intermediate the ends the face member of the bandage is provided with transversely disposed straps 7, and an intermediate strap 8, whereby to secure the extensions 4 and 5 in close relation to the bandage, when in applied position.

The relatively forward portion of the band age members is provided with projections 9 and 10, depending from the lower edge of each of the members, whereby to accord a proper attachment of the hose supporters 11. By preference the projections 9 and 10 are disposed on opposite sides of the forward central line of the bandage, including tab like projections on each member, so as to provide.

for securing the hose supporters to both members. Any form of connection between the projections 9 and 10 and the hose supporters is contemplated, though the ordinary safety pin attachment 12, forming part of the hose supporter, is preferred, it being under stood that the pin of the latter is passed through the free ends of the projections 9 and 10 of both the front and rear members of the bandage.

A pad tab 13 is secured between the bandage members, being disposed at the central point in the length of the bandage, and preferably secured by the line of stitching uniting the connected upper edges of the members. The tab is of less length than the width of the members, so as to be wholly concealed between the members at all times. Securing straps 14 are secured in spaced relation to and on opposite sides of the tab 13, being disposed transverse the length of the bandage and secured at their respective edges to the rear member 2. Beyond the straps 14 are secured end tabs '15, which latter tabs are also secured between the members, and extend longitudinally thereof. The remote or outer ends of the tabs 15 are secured by a suitable line of stitching, while the proximate or relatively inner ends of said tabs are free of such connection. The catamenial pad 16 is centrally secured to the tab 13, being, when ject the free ends of said pad in opposite directions from the tab 13. From the tab 13 the ends of the pad are passed beneath the straps 14, with the respective free ends of the pad secured to the end tabs 15. Any secur ing medium for connecting the pad to the tabs 13 and 15 may be used, though I prefer that the connection be of the ordinary safety pin type which may, if preferred, form a permanent part of the respective tab.

At 'a point forming the relatively rear portion of the bandage in use, that is at the junction of the extension 5 with the bandage members, I secure a depending tab 18, preferably depending below the lower edge of the members and providedwith a pad securing means, as a safety pin 19. i

The straps 14 are preferably provided with a means for securing the face or front mem ber of the bandage thereto. In the present instance the means is illustrated as of the usual glove button type, one member 20 of which is secured to the straps 14, the cooperating member 21 being secured to the face member of the bandage in position to interlock with the strap member and secure the sections of the bandage together.

In securing the bandage about the waist of the wearer the extensions 4 and 5 are passed around the body of the wearer toward the rear, the extension 4 passing beneath the extension 5. The end of the extension 4 is passed through the opening formed at the junction of the extension 5 with the bandage proper, and the free ends of the extension brought forward to overlie the forward portion of the bandage. The forward ends of the extensions are passed through the respective straps 7, and the end tapes 22 of the extensions are secured together by tying, one or both of the tapes previous to the tying operation being passed beneath the strap 8. The bandage is thus secured in place in a manner to evenly distribute the material thereof 'and avoid inconvenience to the wearer. In this position of the bandage the projections 9 and 10 depend from the rela tively forward end of the bandage on opposite sides of the central portion thereof the tab 13 depends from the upper edge of the bandage between the members at the forward point and the tab 18 depends from the lower edge of the bandage at the rear central point.

With the bandage in such applied position it is to be noted that the catamenial pad 16 is wholly concealed between the members of the bandage, and that when desired for use it is only necessary to release the front or face member of the bandage from its connection with the straps 14, and then release the ends of the pad from the tabs 15. The ends of the tab may be now readily withdrawn from beneath the straps 14 and moved into desired position, the free ends of the pad being of course, attached to the rear tab 18. The pad is thus at all times in conveniently accessible condition, and owing to the peculiar arrangement described adds no material weight or thickness to the bandage. The convenience of such structure is readily apparent providing as it does the necessity for but a single connection in securingthe pad in place, and assuring by such connection that the pad is properly arranged.

The bandage as a whole is designed to be made of any suitable material and in any desired length or width, as the salient feature of the present invention resides in the means for supporting and normally maintaining in concealed position the catamenial pad, and

aside from this feature the pad may be otherwise constructed as desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. An abdominal bandage comprising two members secured together, in combination with a catamenial pad secured centrally between the members with said ends projected in opposite directions and terminally secured to one of said members beyond the center.

2. An abdominal bandage comprising two members, a central tab secured between the members, and end tabs secured in opposite directions beyond the central tab, in combination with a catamenial pad to be centrally secured to the central tab with its ends secured respectively to the end tabs, said pad being concealed between the members.

3. An abdominal bandage comprising two members secured together at their upper edges to provide a belt-like structure, a tab secured centrally to one of the members and concealed between said members, end tabs secured to one of the members in opposite directions beyond the central tab, in combination with a catamenial pad secured centrally to the central tab and having its ends secured to the end tabs, said pad being concealed between the members.

4. An abdominal bandage comprising two members secured together at their upper edges to provide a belt-like structure, a tab secured centrally to one of the members and concealed between said members, end tabs secured to one of the members in opposite directions beyond the central tab, in combination with a catamenial pad secured centrally to the central tab and having its ends secured to the end tabs, said pad being concealed between the members, the lower edges of the members being free of connection to permit convenient access to the pad.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR R. SLATER.

I/Vitnesses HENRIETTA HEAD, LoUIsE SLATER. 

